Grafton News

Australian teachers pave the way for the future

Published

2 years ago

22 July 2022

JeffG

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Australian teachers pave the way for the future

The 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards celebrates 22 of Australia’s most outstanding educators for building a brighter future for Australian students.

UNDER EMBARGO 09:00 am, Friday, 22 July 2022: Today, 22 outstanding teachers are being recognised for their leadership, innovation and tenacious commitment to their students and communities at the 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards.

In partnership with national charity Schools Plus, the 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards celebrates and rewards educators for demonstrating teaching excellence and helping to address the education gap in schools across the country.

These remarkable teachers have gone above and beyond in spite of unique challenges from an unprecedented year. Faced with devastating natural disasters and ongoing classroom disruptions due to Covid, these teachers were quick to adopt innovative and resilient education practices that fostered personal connection with students, asserting their place among the best in the country.

Their initiatives include everything from developing unique learning programs such as ‘Annual Mathematics Olympics’ and ‘Project Medical School’, to pioneering new eSports and drone technology courses. In a thread of commonality, this year’s cohort of Award winners are committed to equality and inclusivity, developing programs where students of all learning abilities and backgrounds can engage, learn and feel supported.

This year, and for the past six years, the Awards have recognised 12 outstanding teachers with a $45,000 Teaching Fellowship to fund a strategic program in their school and provide unique opportunities for professional development.

In addition, this year saw the introduction of a new awards category for teachers in the first five years of their profession. 10 Early Career Teachers who have the commitment, potential and passion to make a significant impact in classrooms have received $10,000 for professional development and mentoring.

While many of the 2021 Award recipients were recognised for improving outcomes through virtual learning when the pandemic hit, many of this year’s recipients have supported students in their transition from remote learning back to in-person learning in the classroom.

Luke Schepen, Head of Community Investment Commonwealth Bank, said: “The Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards recognise outstanding educators who go above and beyond to nurture young minds for a bright future.

“Many of us will have fond memories of teachers who made a profound impact on our lives, encouraging us to achieve and prepare us for our future careers. Teachers and educators play such a vital role in preparing the next generation to meet the demands of an evolving workforce, economy and society and we congratulate our 2022 Award recipients for their exceptional contribution to schools across the country,” Mr Schepen said. CBA Media +61 02 9118 6919 media@cba.com.au commbank.com.au/newsroom Twitter: @cbanewsroom 2 Commonwealth Bank of Australia | Media Release 000/2022

Rosemary Conn, Chief Executive Officer, Schools Plus, said: “We are delighted to celebrate these inspirational teachers, who share our commitment to addressing the education gap in areas of disadvantage, particularly over the past two challenging years. Schools Plus is proud to support schools and teachers who have shown innovation, resilience and tireless commitment to their students.”

The 22 Award recipients have been selected from more than 2000 educators who were nominated for their outstanding contribution to their schools and broader communities. The 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award winners are:

Teaching Fellows:

_Trent Cowley, Kingston State School, QLD
_Jenna Cullen, Marsden State High School, QLD
_Daniel Edwards, Montello Primary School, TAS
_Toni Hatten-Roberts, Mastery Schools Australia, QLD
_Adrian Casten, Burnside State High School, QLD
_Michael Hornby, Mabel Park State High School, QLD
_Brendan Kenna, Wilmot Road Primary School, VIC
_Peter Langham, Monterey Secondary College, VIC
_Fransina Norval, Tennant Creek High School, NT
_Ian Preston, Murrumbidgee Regional High School, NSW
_Stephanie Salazar, John Purchase Public School, NSW
_Shane Wilson, Marble Bar Primary School, WA

Early Career Teachers:

_Holly Millican, South Grafton High School, NSW
_Lauren Walters, St Agnes Catholic High School, NSW
_Kylie Chatfield, Christmas Island District High School, WA
_Liudmyla Kovalev, Loganlea State High School, QLD
_Stella Ding, The Ponds High School, NSW
_Alys Tipler, Browns Plains State High School, QLD
_Justin Betts, Sunnybank State High School, QLD
_Claire Vogan, Minyerri School, NT
_Jessica Cridland, Monterey Secondary College, VIC
_Kathleen O’Rourke, Cootamundra Public School, NSW

This Friday (22 July), Holly Millican, a teacher at South Grafton High School, will be recognised as one of Australia’s most inspiring teachers in the 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards. Run in partnership with Australian Schools Plus, the Awards recognise the amazing contribution teachers and school leaders make, and is the largest national program to acknowledge excellence in education.

Holly is one of only 10 winners selected for the inaugural Early Careers Teaching Award, shortlisted from more than 400 educators. Please find more details attached on her achievements that will lead her to be recognised in this prestigious program

Holly Millican, South Grafton High School

Holly’s dedication as a Maths teacher has inspired countless students at South Grafton High School and across NSW. Among her efforts to lessen the stigma and difficulty many students experience with Maths; Holly’s founding of the Annual Mathematics Olympics stands out.

Now in its third year, the inspiring program is run at five high schools in the Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley regions, and its digital resources have been accessed by over 30 schools across NSW.

Through tasks that seek to inspire, student engagement and confidence have shown consistent and impressive improvement after each competition.

Holly will receive $10,000 in recognition of her outstanding achievements, to go towards professional development and mentoring.

“It is an absolute honour to be nominated for the 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards. I could not be more proud to represent the South Grafton High School community. Being considered alongside the other Early Career recipients has absolutely blown me away. To have the steps I have taken in my career thus far and the roles I have taken on be recognised as having a significant impact underpins my passion for changing the way Mathematics is viewed. It gives me confidence that my actions are having a real impact on real teachers and students.”

“I want to alter the way we teach and approach maths to change the perception that it’s a “boring” subject. Through the Mathematics Olympics, it’s exciting to show people maths can be adventurous; it can be playful; it can be exciting. It’s not just numbers on a page”, said Holly

The 2022 winners will join 60 alumni from previous cohorts, who have all been nationally recognised as leaders in their field and made a real difference to the future of their students.

For more information on the Commonwealth Bank, Teaching Awards, visit www.teachingawards.com.au.

– ENDS – CBA Media +61 02 9118 6919 media@cba.com.au commbank.com.au/newsroom Twitter: @cbanewsroom 3 Commonwealth Bank of Australia | Media Release 000/2022

Important information

About the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards:

The Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards are run in partnership with Schools Plus. Launched in 2016, the Awards are run annually to recognise and reward 12 teachers and school leaders across Australia with a $45,000 Teaching Fellowship.

Commonwealth Bank’s 90-year history in education has enabled the Bank to help to support generations of young Australians to acquire the skills the economy and society need. Through the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards, the Bank is able to help support Australia’s great educators who are essential in helping to develop the future workforce of Australia.

About Schools Plus:

Schools Plus is a national not-for-profit that helps children facing disadvantage succeed at school. We do this by empowering teachers with funding, coaching and knowledge to create lasting change in their school and beyond.

Our purpose is to close the education gap caused by disadvantage and ensure all young Australians reach their potential through access to a great education. Our initiatives are teacher-led and tailored to best meet the needs of students in their specific school. More than 4,600 schools across Australia are eligible for tax-deductible donations through Schools Plus.

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“Australian lightweight champion from lil ol’ Swan Bay”

Published

15 hours ago

3 December 2024

Liam

Sunny McLean with his coach, Scott Smith. Boxing Northern Rivers News

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“Australian lightweight champion from lil ol’ Swan Bay”

By Samantha Elley

Maddog boxing’s Sunny McLean has been going from strength to strength this past year, grabbing titles from each of the events he has been fighting in.

Sunny McLean and his coach, Scott Smith, who runs Maddox Boxing, were recently picked to represent Queensland as the fighter and coach team to compete in the national titles in Gosford.

Sunny won all his elimination bouts and beat the NSW champion in the gold medal fight, to become the newly crowned Australian champion in the lightweight division.

They were surprised with a visit from Jason and Andrew Moloney, world champion professional boxers.

“Every state in Australia was there with all the best fighters and the (Moloney brothers) came to support us, so we felt so special,” said Scott.

“They came to help me prepare Sunny for his last two fights in this event.”

Sunny was competing for Queensland as he already holds the title of QLD/NSW interstate champion.

“His first opponent, the referee stopped the fight in the 3rd round,” said Scott.

“His second opponent was the favourite from Tasmania and Sunny won that fight to go through for the gold medal against the NSW champion.

“Andy (co-trainer) and I worked out a plan to beat him and Sunny did exactly what he was asked and never last control of the situation.

“He is now the Australian lightweight champion from lil ol Swan Bay.”

For more local news, click here.

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Grafton News

Glittering celebration for city icon

Published

7 days ago

27 November 2024

Liam

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Glittering celebration for city icon

By Tim Howard

The Grafton glitterati will don their finest on Friday night to celebrate the 140th anniversary of one of the city’s major icons.

Grafton’s Christ Church Cathedral turns 140 this year and a gala dinner has been organised to celebrate.

The church community has the added pleasure of welcoming back two recently significant figures, former cathedral deans Dean Peter Catt and Bishop Richard Hurford.

Between them they will have a plentiful supply of anecdotes of their terms as Deans of the Cathedral.

But they won’t be the only entertainment on the night in the nave of the cathedral.

The Clarence Valley Conservatorium String Quartet will provide the musical entertainment for the evening.

And in between sets there will be fund raising games and activities to raise money for the maintenance of the church’s heritage buildings and ministerial activities.

The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral the Very Rev Naomi Cooke said she would like to see as many people as possible there to celebrate the cathedral’s significant milestone,

“The 140th Anniversary Gala Dinner is an opportunity for us to commemorate this milestone and celebrate the rich history and bright future of Grafton Cathedral,” she said.

Rev Cooke said the cathedral would be transformed into a beautiful venue for the formal three-course dinner.

The evening would commence with hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine on the beautiful Cathedral grounds, followed by guests being seated for dinner in the grand setting of the Cathedral nave accompanied by the music of the string quartet.

The church has sought sponsorship of the event in three ways, seeking

Tickets can be booked here.

“We are proud to have reached this milestone, and it would not have been possible without the support of the local community,” Rev Cooke said.

The Clarence River Historical Society has prepared a leaflet to provide some background information for Friday.

It showed the cathedral was designed by John Horbury Hunt an architect controversial in his time, but who has some significant landmarks to his credit, including St Peter’s Cathedral in Armidale.

The completed cathedral building measures 50.5m in lengthy, 13.5m in width and rises to 18 metres at the top of the cross on its western end.

The builder was Paddy Robison who also made some of the stained glass windows in the building.

The cathedral was made from around half a million bricks and can hold 500 worshippers.

It consists of the sanctuary, choir, transept and nave and the foundations have the capacity to hold a chapter house and spire, which have not been built.

The foundations were laid in stone calculated to be strong enough to bear the weight of the proposed structures.

The historical society included a chronology of the cathedral construction

1874: Foundation stone laid June 24.
1880: Building of the cathedral commences.
1884: Cathedral opened and dedicated July 25.
1934: Foundation stone laid for second stage June 27.
1959: Cathedral is consecrated September 14.
1984: Centenary celebrations and restoration work complete.
2019: Further restoration work completed.
2024: Final stages of restorations completed this month.

For more local news, click here.

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Grafton News

Vandals continue attacks at cricket HQ

Published

2 months ago

17 October 2024

Liam

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Vandals continue attacks at cricket HQ

By Tim Howard

The continued senseless destruction of large sections of the boundary fence at Grafton’s Ellem Oval has outraged the local sporting community.

The president of the Clarence River Cricket Association, Anthony Dickson, was astounded at the extent of the damage when he arrived at the ground on Saturday ahead of the first match of the season.

Dickson, also a player with the South Services first grade team, said the modern picket fence around ground was in a sorry state.

“It’s a beautiful oval this time of year, but there’s panels busted out every where,” Dickson said.

“I don’t know what we can do,” he said. “The council don’t seem to want to do anything. It’s starting to drive us insane.”

Dickson said the location of the heaviest damage to the fence, near the skate park, was a clear indication of who were the culprits.

“It’s a beautiful oval, with a modern clubhouse and this is happening. It’s a bad look,” Dickson said.

The classic picket fence surrounding the cricket ground in the park, named after the Ellem family who were synonymous with Clarence cricket for most of the 20th Century, was part of a $2.5 million upgrade off the Fisher Park precinct completed in 2011.

The skate park near the oval has been a popular addition to community infrastructure but has also been a venue for some anti-social behaviour.

The skate park, built in the early part of the century and upgraded at cost of of $64,000 in 2010 has been a source of conflict between young people using the park and cricketers ever since the picket fence went up in 2011.

Skate park users have at times interrupted cricket matches, riding bikes onto the field on at least one occasion and at times taunting players on the field near the fence.

Dickson said it was not surprising the heaviest damage to the picket fence has occurred along the perimeter next to the skate park.

“We’ve been told the damage to the fence now would cost about $10,000 to repair,” he said.

The skate park has been popular with young people in Grafton ever since it opened and has also been used as a venue for the popular Out of the Box youth outreach service.

But it also been the scene of a number of assaults and other anti-social behaviour and also a spectacular vehicle fire in March 2022.

Dickson said damage to the fence had continued over a number of years but had not been repaired.

“We’ve got this beautiful cricket oval going around about three quarters of the ground, with this modern clubhouse,” he said.

“But that section near the skatepark has had all the palings busted off and even the rails have been pulled down.

“Now they’ve smashed up another section of the fence coming back towards the clubhouse. Something’s got to be done. It has to stop.”

Vandals have also moved inside the fence to damage the ground with wicket covers destroyed and people riding bikes on the wicket surface when it was wet.

Dickson said leading umpire up Tony Blanch, who is also the wicket curator at the ground, had met with the police after the latest vandal attack.

“I don’t know what we can do,” he said. “We’ve had these problems for a long time, but it always seem to end up with nothing happening.”

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